Instructor: Kevin Shoemaker
Office: Fleischmann Agriculture, room 220e
Phone: 775-682-7449
Email: kevinshoemaker_at_unr_dot_edu
Office hours: Wednesdays from 11am to noon in FA
220e
Course Website: https://kevintshoemaker.github.io/NRES-470/
Teaching Assistant Jerrod Merrell
(jmerrell_at_unr_dot_edu)
TA Office hours: TBD
Lecture & Discussion: M, W at 10am (50 mins) in
FA 301 (Fleischmann Ag Building)
Lab: F at 1pm (2 hrs 45 mins) in FA 301
This class explores how concepts of population ecology can be used to inform the conservation and management of natural populations and ecosystems. We emphasize practical approaches to problem-solving in ecology, conservation, and wildlife management using simulation models and statistics. Topics include Population Viability Analysis (PVA), limits to population growth, metapopulation ecology, species interactions (competition and predation), threats to wild populations, wildlife management and more. Laboratory exercises provide students with hands-on experience with wildlife population models and their practical applications in wildlife ecology and management.
SLO 1. Explain how and why simulation models are used by ecologists
and wildlife professionals.
SLO 2. Apply tools such as population viability analysis (PVA) and
metapopulation models to address the conservation and management of wild
populations.
SLO 3. Perform basic statistics, data visualization, simulation modeling
and model validation with Excel, the statistical computing language ‘R’,
and the web-based software, InsightMaker.
SLO 4. Critically evaluate the strength of inferences drawn from
ecological simulation models using tools such as sensitivity
analysis.
SLO 5. Explain how species interactions can influence population
dynamics (e.g., predictions of species range shifts).
SLO 6. Communicate original research in applied population and community
ecology via professional-style oral and written presentations.
The course grade will be based on the following components:
Lab exercises (7 total) 20%
Lectures/participation 10%
Group project 30%
Midterm exam # 1 (date TBD) 10%
Midterm exam # 2 (date TBD) 10%
Final exam 20%
Grading scale: A (100 to 93), A- (92 to 90), B+ (89 to 87), B (86 to 83), B- (82 to 80), C+ (79 to 77), C (76 to 73), C- (72 to 70), D+ (69 to 67), D (66 to 63), D- (62 to 60), F (below 60).
There will be two midterm exams and a final exam, all of which will be cumulative, covering all course material covered up to the week prior to the exam. These will consist of multiple-choice, short-answer questions, and essay questions requiring synthesis of key concepts.
Lecture grades will be based primarily on participation and short in-class quizzes (via Top Hat). Participation is essential to the learning process (and to our mutual enjoyment of this class). Learning is not a passive process; students are expected to engage with the material in class rather than simply listen and take notes. You should be prepared in class to ask questions, to answer questions, and to engage in problem-solving activities.
Lab exercises will focus on applying concepts and methods introduced in lectures, and will involve real-world problems in wildlife conservation and management wherever possible. Graded lab assignments will involve figures, tables, InsightMaker models and R code (when applicable) and responses to questions in short-answer format.
Students will work in groups of 3-4 to perform a population viability analysis (PVA) to rank conservation or management actions for a species of conservation concern (species of your choice!). Grading will be based on finished products (written and oral presentations) as well as participation and peer evaluations.
Graduate students will be subject to additional expectations in order to receive graduate credit for this course. In particular, graduate students will be expected to develop an original lecture and lead an original lab activity related to a topic relevant to wildlife population ecology. Graduate students will also be expected to achieve a deeper understanding of the course material, and therefore will be expected to participate as leaders in discussions and lab activities.
Missed exams and labs cannot be made up, except in the case of emergencies. If you miss a class meeting, it is your responsibility to talk to one of your classmates about what you missed. If you miss a lab meeting, you are still responsible for completing the lab activities and write-up. Let me or your TA know in advance if you are going to miss class or lab.
We will be using the Top Hat interactive learning platform in class. You will be able to submit answers to in-class questions using Apple or Android smartphones and tablets, laptops, or through text message.
Top Hat is free of charge for UNR students this year! You should all have received an invitation via email. You can also enroll using the join code 866526.
The University Academic Standards Policy defines academic dishonesty, and mandates specific sanctions for violations. See the University Academic Standards policy: UAM 6,502
Any student with a disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations is requested to speak with the instructor or the Disability Resource Center (Pennington Achievement Center Suite 230) as soon as possible to arrange for appropriate accommodations. This course may leverage 3rd party web/multimedia content, if you experience any issues accessing this content, please notify your instructor.
Surreptitious or covert video-taping of class or unauthorized audio recording of class is prohibited by law and by Board of Regents policy. This class may be videotaped or audio recorded only with the written permission of the instructor. In order to accommodate students with disabilities, some students may have been given permission to record class lectures and discussions. Therefore, students should understand that their comments during class may be recorded.
Class sessions may be audio-visually recorded for students in the class to review and for enrolled students who are unable to attend live to view. Students who participate with their camera on or who use a profile image are consenting to have their video or image recorded. If you do not consent to have your profile or video image recorded, keep your camera off and do not use a profile image. Students who un-mute during class and participate orally are consenting to have their voices recorded. If you do not consent to have your voice recorded during class, keep your mute button activated and only communicate by using the “chat” feature, which allows you to type questions and comments live.
The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a safe learning and work environment for all. If you believe you have experienced discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic/dating violence, or stalking, whether on or off campus, or need information related to immigration concerns, please contact the University’s Equal Opportunity & Title IX office at 775-784-1547. Resources and interim measures are available to assist you. For more information, please visit the Equal Opportunity and Title IX page.
In the event of class cancellations or delays caused by inclement weather conditions, fire/smoke conditions, or other unforeseen emergencies, the safety and well-being of students are the University’s top priority. Official notifications will be disseminated through the University website and other official channels with details related to any campus delays or closures. In the event of a campus closure, you will be informed as to whether the class will be offered remotely or if it will be canceled. If the class is cancelled, you will receive information on how to address any missed course content. Students facing significant impacts due to these events are encouraged to communicate with their instructor for potential accommodations.
In accordance with section 6,502 of the University Administrative Manual, a student may receive academic and disciplinary sanctions for failure to comply with policy, including this syllabus, for failure to comply with the directions of a University Official, for disruptive behavior in the classroom, or any other prohibited action. “Disruptive behavior” is defined in part as behavior, including but not limited to failure to follow course, laboratory or safety rules, or endangering the health of others. A student may be dropped from class at any time for misconduct or disruptive behavior in the classroom upon recommendation of the instructor and with approval of the college dean. A student may also receive disciplinary sanctions through the Office of Student Conduct for misconduct or disruptive behavior, including endangering the health of others, in the classroom. The student shall not receive a refund for course fees or tuition.